wendy_lee48•10d agoOG Member

Concrete patio in Palm Springs cracked after just 6 months - found out why and it blew my mind

I poured a 400 square foot stamped concrete patio last spring and by October it looked like a spider web. I was so mad until I talked to a guy out in Quartzsite who builds pools. He told me my problem wasn't the mix or the pour, it was the ground prep. The desert soil expands like crazy when it gets wet even if you think it's dry. I didn't put enough gravel base down, only 2 inches instead of the 4 or 5 they recommend out here. Has anyone else had a slab crack because they skimped on base material?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_eric10d ago

What contractor did you use? Did they offer any redo or was it just "desert problems, tough luck"?

davis.olivia10d ago

Oh man, I actually remember reading about a similar nightmare on a local Facebook group. Someone posted about their pool turning green and slimy within a week of it being "finished," and the contractor just ghosted them. Turns out the guy wasn't even licensed, just a dude with a truck and a dream. I heard that a lot of these desert contractors rely on people not checking their credentials because they know most folks are just desperate to get the work done fast. It's a mess, but filing with the state board is definitely the move if the contractor's a no-show. At least then you've got a paper trail and maybe they'll actually get investigated.

harperp2410d ago

Flip it around on them and ask if they even checked the contractor's bond and license before signing. A lot of people (myself included, back in the day) just go with whoever has the best Google reviews or a cheap quote, but that's a huge gamble out here. Here's the thing nobody talks about: some of these guys are basically just unlicensed handymen who slap a business name on their truck and take cash. If they're not bonded, you have zero recourse when they screw up your pool and say "tough luck." I'd bet money the contractor they used either didn't carry liability insurance or their bond was expired, which is super common in rural desert areas. Your best bet now is to file a complaint with the state contractor's board and see if they even have a record of the guy.